We live in an extremely polarized time, in which no president of either party is going to get substantial approval from the other party’s voters. President Obama's approval among Republicans is at a mere 11 percent, around where it’s been for much of his time in office. Waldman says Obama could create 10 percent GDP growth, cure cancer, and save a bunch of orphans from a burning building, and nearly all Republicans would still say they don’t like him.

That's the hole that is Clinton's starting point. But the reality for Clinton is equally difficult. Waldman states that "there’s still a double standard for women in politics, which says that it’s unseemly for them to have ambition. That means it’s fine for her to do the job, but for her to seek a promotion immediately makes many people, especially those with “traditional” values, decide that there’s something about her they don’t like."

Okay being a woman in politics is bad...at least for certain Republicans whose brains are wired differently. But it goes well beyond being a woman:

"Among the many things this campaign has accomplished is to solidify a Republican narrative that they will continually reinforce about her if she’s president. It says that she’s venal, dishonest, rotten to the core, and literally nothing she does is for anything but the worst reasons. Presuming they hold on to at least one house of Congress (or lose them and then get them back in 2018), there will be constant investigations of the administration meant to prove just how corrupt she and those who work for her are. The attacks will be unceasing, because they know that keeping her mired in scandal (even if the scandals are invented) is the best way to hamstring her, keep her administration from achieving policy objectives they disagree with, and increase the likelihood of future Republican victories."

Waldman hit the nail on the head with that last statement. No matter what some more moderate Republicans privately believe about her, when it comes to party (tribal) politics, the tribe wins the day, at least the public face of those politicians. Hillary must be hated because they must continually pander to their constituents. The falsehoods go around in circles, embellished and believed...and repeated again and again.

That's reality in Republican Land...no matter who their candidate is for President he has to be better than the evil "Crooked Hillary."

And as long as Republicans obligingly spout that nonsense day after day, they have a chance of turning the tables in the midterms of 2018 when the Dems don't vote. Sad but true.

"For decades she’s been portrayed as a Lady Macbeth involved in nefarious plots, branded as “a congenital liar” and accused of covering up her husband’s misconduct, from Arkansas to Monica Lewinsky. Some of this is sexist caricature. Some is stoked by the “Hillary is a liar” videos that flood Facebook feeds. Some of it she brings on herself by insisting on a perimeter or “zone of privacy” that she protects too fiercely. It’s a natural impulse, given the level of scrutiny she’s attracted, more than any male politician I can think of.

"I would be “dead rich”, to adapt an infamous Clinton phrase, if I could bill for all the hours I’ve spent covering just about every “scandal” that has enveloped the Clintons. As an editor I’ve launched investigations into her business dealings, her fundraising, her foundation and her marriage. As a reporter my stories stretch back to Whitewater. I’m not a favorite in Hillaryland. That makes what I want to say next surprising.

Jill Abramson has more credibility than me. But she is saying the same thing that I have been saying about Hillary Clinton again and again based on my own extensive research. Hillary Clinton is honest and trustworthy and I will be proud to call her "my president". She will serve America well.

"For decades she’s been portrayed as a Lady Macbeth involved in nefarious plots, branded as “a congenital liar” and accused of covering up her husband’s misconduct, from Arkansas to Monica Lewinsky. Some of this is sexist caricature. Some is stoked by the “Hillary is a liar” videos that flood Facebook feeds. Some of it she brings on herself by insisting on a perimeter or “zone of privacy” that she protects too fiercely. It’s a natural impulse, given the level of scrutiny she’s attracted, more than any male politician I can think of.

"I would be “dead rich”, to adapt an infamous Clinton phrase, if I could bill for all the hours I’ve spent covering just about every “scandal” that has enveloped the Clintons. As an editor I’ve launched investigations into her business dealings, her fundraising, her foundation and her marriage. As a reporter my stories stretch back to Whitewater. I’m not a favorite in Hillaryland. That makes what I want to say next surprising.

Jill Abramson has more credibility than me. But she is saying the same thing that I have been saying about Hillary Clinton again and again based on my own extensive research. Hillary Clinton is honest and trustworthy and I will be proud to call her "my president". She will serve America well.

Schmidt, My guess is that the problem is the word "conservative"; the word means stick to religion and the old inbred ways.

They hate foreigners and love their guns, beer and awful humor. People like Obama they despice; like Trump started all of this with the "birther" issue. Obstruction to change is their "hobby" .It has nothing to do if Hillary is honest or not.

Republicans are "bred" that way and refuse to accept the reality of running an large country with so many different denominations.

Indeed as was said on MSNBC they want "white supremacy" ( means christian rednecks or drunks without education)

Schmidt, You have said the folliwing and something similar wuite often:

"I have been saying about Hillary Clinton again and again based on my own extensive research."

Research and extensive research does nothing but gather facts. Forming an opinion about the meaning of research if the research was done objectively is something else. Are you saying you have objective material that conflicts charges and accusations against Hillary or is it just your opinion that she is honest. My opinion is that she is honest because she has not been adjudicated otherwise and that is without research.

I personally have a problem with the UBS IRS settlement, UBS Donations to the Clinton Foundation and UBS paying Bill Clinton $1.5 million in speaking fees after the UBS IRS settlement. It further is an irritant because ex senator from Texas Phil Gramm who helped destroy part of our economy now works for UBS. Now that is research that can present a different opinion.

Chet Ruminski Wrote: I personally have a problem with the UBS IRS settlement, UBS Donations to the Clinton Foundation and UBS paying Bill Clinton $1.5 million in speaking fees after the UBS IRS settlement. It further is an irritant because ex senator from Texas Phil Gramm who helped destroy part of our economy now works for UBS. Now that is research that can present a different opinion.

Schmidt and Chet, I'm of the opinion if you get in the position of President then there are 10,000 "vultures" who want to undermine you or get something for themselves; then if you are in such position you are manipulated day and night by all kind of characters who have only an certain goal to reach due to the lobbying system in this country. Thus it is no wonder that things happen, regardless on how "honest" you are. The position and "culture" here are asking for missteps. I believe that all Presidents in one way or another had lots of sleepless nights because they were unable to stop the corruption peddling in this country. But yeah we refuse to adapt the European system, where lobbying is not allowed. hallejuja.

Dutch, From what you have said about your past in international aviation I would suppose you have had similar experiences that I have had with very rich very powerful people. They never have to ask or to deal with situations that disturb them. What happens in distasteful problem situations is that some person will take care of the situation without being asked . That person will do it knowing they will be greatly rewarded. There are enough nut cases out there to act on anything. President has to be the most stressful job in the world knowing how many extremists are out there on the verge of acting.

Chet Ruminski Wrote: Dutch, From what you have said about your past in international aviation I would suppose you have had similar experiences that I have had with very rich very powerful people. They never have to ask or to deal with situations that disturb them. What happens in distasteful problem situations is that some person will take care of the situation without being asked . That person will do it knowing they will be greatly rewarded. There are enough nut cases out there to act on anything. President has to be the most stressful job in the world knowing how many extremists are out there on the verge of acting.

Yes I had experiences with the rich and powerful; one of them was Trump. He wanted planes for his failed "Trump Shuttle" and invited our sales team which included me; however he wanted "big" planes (727's) and did not accept our figures about fuel burn on the short hops from Washington to New York, ( you need smaller planes with low fuel burn as well also shorter turnaround times and more frequency) But of course he knew it better and bought/leased some old 727's with an lot of maintenance cost; the result is known; bankrupt!!!

So if he wants to run this country this way, then we know the results: BANKRUPT!

TJ Wrote: A large percentage would take Bankrupt by a white male. It's that simple.

Exactly TJ, you can't solve an irrational problem by rationalizing. The Trump brand has to be fought with irrational tactics. I would run that clip of Trump ridiculing the handicapped reporter captioned not for my country not ever. And understand that the point is not the reporter but Trump capable of the imitation.

Chet, I agree with you. He's said many bad things but that moment was him at his worst. It was then that I thought he can't want to win. Nobody likes a jerk bully.

Today DT said if Clinton wins, there will be a Taco truck on every corner. What an ass. Time for me to google: Number of bigots in America. I can't think of another group wanting to vote for that clown.

Back on topic - Ms. Clinton

Rumor has it Bernie Sanders is done looking for his taxes and he'll get off of his ass and campaign for the Democratic party candidate this weekend. It's nice that he'll make a contribution towards the cause. I look forward to him realizing (again) that he has much to offer.

Bernie is the saving grace. If they are smart they'll let Hillary attack and Bernie can be the reason to vote for Hillary by telling the country how only Democrats deliver the things Trump promises.

Getting back to the subject; the low approval ratings of Hillary. I saw just on the news that the "polls" now show only ONE POINT difference between her and Trump. What is going on? I would think with the stupidity of Trump visiting Mexico and holding his "bully" immigration speech the numbers would move in favor of Hillary. The more I think of it: This country is more stupid than I thought. Unbelievable for sure!!!

This story should have been told a long time ago. From the Washington Post Editorial Board:

"JUDGING BY the amount of time NBC’s Matt Lauer spent pressing Hillary Clinton on her emails during Wednesday’s national security presidential forum, one would think that her homebrew server was one of the most important issues facing the country this election. It is not. There are a thousand other substantive issues — from China’s aggressive moves in the South China Sea to National Security Agency intelligence-gathering to military spending — that would have revealed more about what the candidates know and how they would govern. Instead, these did not even get mentioned in the first of 5½ precious prime-time hours the two candidates will share before Election Day, while emails took up a third of Ms. Clinton’s time."

This e-mail story has been blown way out of proportion by the Republicans and the media. Matt Lauer is not the only one obsessed with Hillary Clinton's e-mails. MSNBC and CNN follow Trump's every utterance, but when it comes to time for Hillary, it's nothing but e-mails, day after day after day.

As the WP concludes, "there is no equivalence between Ms. Clinton’s wrongs and Mr. Trump’s manifest unfitness for office."